CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2011 Fusion builds off the 2010's reputation. That's not a good thing.
The first thing that jumps out is the ridiculous amount of power steering complaints. It grinds, it squeals, and it eventually just fails.
And if losing power steering isn’t enough for you, how about a sudden loss of engine power? That combination is enough to achieve clunker status.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
42 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
21 / 1
Average Mileage:
78,974 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that there was a sudden loss of power steering as the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the power steering gear needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,650. Updated 8/28/14 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. Updated 09/15/2014
Started my car steering wheel was very stiff no power steering turned car off and back on power steering worked. June 20, 5 times this happened while driving steering just went out. Got off road restarted car had power steering. Today July 8 power steering went out would not reset when turning car off and on have no power steering at all now.
Driving at city speeds and the power steering completely fails. Turn the vehicle off and then on again and it fixes the problem. Drive some more and a few days later, it happens again. A few days later, it completely goes. Take the car to the local Ford dealer and am charged $1832.35 for a new rack and pinion. Ladies and gentlemen, a rack and pinion won't fix itself if you turn the car on and off. I did some research on this problem on line at fordfusionforum.com. It seems to be an ABS module, not the rack and pinion. Called Ford today and they said no reimbursement was possible. A new rack and pinion for a car with only 21 thousand miles on it? crazy.
Power steering suddenly went out while traveling at 34-35 mph. Car dash provided a power steering failure notice and a service advanced track notice. Called dealership and am waiting on call back from my service adviser. Was in a straight away, thankfully not turning.
I, was coming home from vacation in Ohio with daughter and my two grandchildren, I am truly thankful that I made it home when coming into the driveway the steering system when out and and had to turn very hard to get in the driving way, this happen one before last year and when I took it in they could not find anything wrong. I, read the manual and let the car cool off and this is the next day and it is still saying the same thing. I, hope a recall be made on this problem soon.
- Birmingham, AL, USA
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Was pulling into drive way. As soon as straightened out the wheels, steering locked up. I could not turn the wheels none at all. They were locked in the last position they were in before the power steering locked up. It has happened again also. Locked up and cannot budge the steering. Looked on line and have seen where this is happening to a lot of Ford Fusion. Needs to be looked into. Someone is going to get killed if not already!
As I was driving my 2011 Ford Fusion to work this morning, the steering wheel started shaking for the last 15 minutes of the drive. I parked and went into work. When I started the car up after work, I had no power steering. I purchased some power steering fluid, but could not find where to put it in. Took the car to the Ford dealership in sarasota and they said it was a rack and pinion failure and that part is under warranty but the ruined tires are my responsibility. The tires were fine yesterday and the car only has 74,000 miles.
About a month ago the power steering went out completely and hasn't come back. It is difficult to drive and steer. Afraid to drive it for fear of crashing if anything else goes wrong while on the highway. I received the "customer satisfaction program" recall for the throttle body - which did not fix the steering problem. In addition to this site, if you google this issue you can find numerous complaints for the same problem. I contacted Ford and was told they do not have any issues with this car, complaints or recalls for steering problems. They are not accepting responsibility. Based on the staggering amount of complaints it is obviously a manufacturer's defect and I don't feel I should pay for the repairs.
5 incidents in total dating back to January 2014. Description of first 4 incidents (all similar): *driving 25 - 35 mph down residential street *without warning the "power steering assist fault" dash light comes on - power steering shuts off *pulled over. Turned off car. Turned car on. Power steering restored. On one of the instances it shut off again 30 minutes later but turning car on/off worked again. *this has happened at least 5 times. Description of last incident (yesterday 6/26/14): *parked. Turned car on. "power steering assist fault" dash light comes on - power steering shuts off *tried the same as the last 5 times. Turned car on/off. Still no power steering. Still dash warning lit. Did this approximately 20 times. No change. *waited overnight. Tried again. Warning light on. No power steering. Turned on and off 5 times. No change. *currently car is parked as too dangerous to drive. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2011 Ford Fusion. The contact stated that the power steering failed and the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. The power steering warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who diagnosed that the electronic power steering pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was to be repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000. Updated 09/02/14 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. The steering rack was replaced. Updated 09/11/2014
I was entering a highway during rush hour and going about 10 mph and the power steering assist fault light came on. Since I was stuck in traffic I was forced to enter the highway for about 1/2 mile with no control over my steering. I exited the highway, turned off the car for about 10 min and restarted. The light went off and power steering returned. From reading other posts, this sound like I'm not the only one this has happened to. No power steering on a busy Texas highway during rush hour is pretty scary.
Driving along. Complete loss of power steering. The dashboard tells me "service advance track." I turned the car on and off and the normal steering resumes. This has been going on for a few weeks. Now, power steering is completely shot.
I bought a used 2011 Ford Fusion sel and 58 days later the power steering went out as I was backing out of the driveway. It currently has 24,000 miles on it and is in excellent condition. I was lucky that I was close to home and my wife wasn't driving it because I had to muscle it back onto the driveway, as the steering was very stiff. I took it to the dealer and they want to replace a part ( I'll find out tomorrow what part it is) but they did say it could cost about $1600. This seems to be a common problem with the Fusion and a potentially dangerous one. If the power steering goes out at high speeds driven by a small person it is a disaster in the making. Please help resolve this problem!
While driving along the highway my gauges on the instrument panel went out momentarily, and then came back on with the message "service advancetrac." I didn't think much about it because it went away when I turned my car off and back on. A couple weeks later (starting June 16th) the instrument panel kept going out every time I drove the vehicle, and multiple messages came up in the message center about getting my brake system checked and all four tire pressures were low. Along with these other message center malfunctions, the anti-theft security system was malfunctioning and not recognizing either key I have for the car. A couple of times it took 20 minutes of trying and hoping to get the vehicle to recognize the key. I took it in to the dealership, and now I have to pay $2000 to get my power steering module replaced. I am completely disappointed that my 2011 Ford needs to have its power steering replaced at not even 60000 miles.
I was driving on the freeway with my 5 yr old son in the car and suddenly out of nowhere my power steering just stopped working and said service power steering now, I've never in my life had a power steering issue this soon on any car and I know for has recalls on other models for power steering so I'm wondering if it's related.
When I first started my car, I notice the chimes going off letting me know it was an error or warning. I noticed in the dash it read power steering assist fault. I noticed the steering wheel was very hard to turn. I immediately turned off the car and restarted and the message went away. The very next morning the exact same thing happened. So four days later it happened only to find out me restarting would not make the message go away. So now I am without power steering and I have read so many complaints of the same and nothing is being done to correct the issue. Nothing will happen unless someone gets hurt or god forbid killed. Its too late then. Ford does not want to be responsible.
Bought car, used 2 weeks ago. Driving straight at approximately 30 mph and the power steering assist warning light came on. The car was very difficult to steer. Had to slow way down and turn car with both hands tugging on the steering wheel and bring it into a parking lot. Turned motor off and waited a minute or so as instructed in the manual. Started car again and the power steering worked. The same thing happened the next day while traveling at approximately 50mph. Repeated maneuver and pulled onto shoulder of the road. Will return to dealer as it is under warranty. Had a 2009 Fusion and loved it.
While driving home from work on a 35 mph roadway my power steering quit. The power steering was no longer available. I had to utilize two hands and aggressively turn the steering wheel inorder to turn. I had an extremely difficult time turning the steering wheel and making a turn. Left car on side of roadway until a tow truck took it away.
The car was diagnosed as needing a new rack and pinion. Car makes loud noises when turning, stopping, and hitting small bumps. Possibility of power steering failure which can lead to crash.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bessemer, AL, USA